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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

5 Colleges in the United States
609 Non-Professional General Legal Studies Degrees Awarded
$45,941 Avg Early-Career Salary

Non-Professional General Legal Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for non-professional general legal studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the non-professional general legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

1
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

Our analysis ranked American University the best school in the country for a degree in non-professional general legal studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 31 non-professional general legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $45,790. Typical student debt for the program is $24,375. See the full non-professional general legal studies program report for American University

2

Thomas Jefferson University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in non-professional general legal studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 12 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their non-professional general legal studies degree from Thomas Jefferson University earn around $64,243 in the first couple years of their career. Thomas Jefferson University graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans. Read more about the non-professional general legal studies program at Thomas Jefferson University

3

University At Buffalo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 71 non-professional general legal studies degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Graduates of the non-professional general legal studies program make about $52,403 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for University At Buffalo

4
Siena College crest
Siena College
Loudonville, NY

Students looking for a strong non-professional general legal studies program will find one at Siena College, which ranked #4. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Siena College awarded about 30 non-professional general legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Siena College earn a median of $32,435 early in their careers. Siena College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full non-professional general legal studies program report for Siena College

5
Dickinson College crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA

A rank of #5 makes Dickinson College one of the top schools for non-professional general legal studies. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 14 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Dickinson College in the most recent data year. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,014 in student loans. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for Dickinson College

6

Saint John Fisher College earned the #6 position for non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 20 non-professional general legal studies degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Students who receive their non-professional general legal studies degree from Saint John Fisher College earn around $55,630 in the first couple years of their career. Saint John Fisher College graduates carry a median of $25,086 in student loans. More information about a degree in non-professional general legal studies from Saint John Fisher College

7

Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 19 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Ramapo College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Ramapo College Of New Jersey generally make around $48,545. Typical student debt for the program is $24,014. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for Ramapo College Of New Jersey

8

Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #8 for non-professional general legal studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 25 non-professional general legal studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. More information about a degree in non-professional general legal studies from Pennsylvania State University World Campus

9

Pace University New York ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their non-professional general legal studies degree from Pace University New York earn around $59,662 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for Pace University New York

10

University Of Maryland University College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 105 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the non-professional general legal studies program make about $54,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,017 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in non-professional general legal studies from University Of Maryland University College

11

University Of Baltimore placed #11 among the best non-professional general legal studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Baltimore. University Of Baltimore graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Baltimore in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Baltimore generally make around $56,837. University Of Baltimore graduates carry a median of $29,681 in student loans. Read more about the non-professional general legal studies program at University Of Baltimore

12

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Students who receive their non-professional general legal studies degree from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn around $32,649 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the non-professional general legal studies program at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

13

St Johns University New York came in at #13 for non-professional general legal studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. St Johns University New York graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 89 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at St Johns University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $29,307. Typical student debt for the program is $26,030. Read more about the non-professional general legal studies program at St Johns University New York

14

William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #14 position for non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 11 non-professional general legal studies degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $30,326. Typical student debt for the program is $25,644. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for William Paterson University Of New Jersey

15

Harford Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best non-professional general legal studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Bel Air. Harford Community College awarded about 10 non-professional general legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the non-professional general legal studies program make about $50,636 in their early career. Harford Community College graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Get the full non-professional general legal studies details for Harford Community College

16
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Mercy College placed #16 among the best non-professional general legal studies schools. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 17 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at Mercy College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their non-professional general legal studies degree from Mercy College earn around $38,579 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in non-professional general legal studies from Mercy College

17

University Of The District Of Columbia placed #17 among the best non-professional general legal studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 19 non-professional general legal studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of The District Of Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $43,778. Typical student debt for the program is $40,750. Read more about the non-professional general legal studies program at University Of The District Of Columbia

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 46 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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